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Can Ported Subwoofers Sound Good With Music?
Al Griffin  |  Aug 07, 2014  |  6 comments
Q I’ve heard that sealed subwoofers sound better than ported ones with music, but that ported subs handle LFE in movie soundtracks better. I want a sub that will sound good in my large, open living room with both music and movies. Do people only use sealed subs in smaller rooms? How will a ported model sound different when playing music?—Matt Carlton
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Can Speakers Have a Super-Wide Listening Angle?
Al Griffin  |  Mar 02, 2016  |  8 comments
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Q I don't have room for a surround setup in my home theater, so I’ve decided to buy a pair of floorstanding tower speakers.  My TV has a super-wide viewing angle.  Are there any speakers with a super-wide listening angle?  I don't want to be the only person in my family sitting in the "sweet spot.” —Edward G. Jones

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Can the Music Apps in My AVR Stream in Hi-Res?
Al Griffin  |  May 15, 2017  |  0 comments
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A I own an Integra DTR-40.6 AV receiver that is capable of playing Hi-Resolution Audio (HRA). Here’s what I want to know: If I were to upgrade my Pandora or Spotify account to stream HRA, would I be able to listen to it using the Pandora or Spotify app built into the receiver? My internet service plan is 50-Mbps FIOS, and I have the receiver connected to my router with an Ethernet cable. &Tony Held / via e-mail

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Can You Get Atmos Sound Using an Analog Link Between a BD Player and AVR?
Al Griffin  |  Apr 08, 2021  |  1 comments
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Q I am planning an upgrade to Panasonic DP-UB9000 Ultra HD Blu-ray player. Can I can connect the player’s 7.1 analog output to my Yamaha AVR’s multichannel input (like I currently do with my Oppo player) and hear Atmos/DTS:X? —Rick Poage, Fairfax, VA

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Can You Recommend a Dolby Atmos Preamp/ Processor Without a Tuner?
Al Griffin  |  Dec 01, 2016  |  7 comments
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Q Are there any standalone surround preamp/processors that decode Dolby Atmos? I’m interested in a unit that doesn’t include an AM/FM radio tuner. —Doc Lockett

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Can You Recommend a Soundbar I Can Use With an Existing Subwoofer?
Al Griffin  |  Oct 08, 2015  |  2 comments
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Q I am switching over from a 5.1 speaker system to a soundbar but would still like to use my current Paradigm PW 2500 subwoofer with it. Are there any new soundbars that can be used with an existing powered sub? —John Rothery / Tacoma, WA

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Can You Recommend a Soundbar with a Hardwired Subwoofer Output?
Al Griffin  |  Oct 11, 2018  |  2 comments
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Q I’ve got a decent Velodyne subwoofer that I’d like to connect to a powered soundbar. Most soundbar manufacturers now use wireless subwoofer connections, however, so I’m struggling to find one that’s capable of connecting with my sub. Could you recommend a mid-level or a high-end soundbar that features a hardwired subwoofer output? —Jim O’Hara, via email

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Can You Recommend an Affordable Streaming Amplifier?
Al Griffin  |  Jul 06, 2017  |  1 comments
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Q I don’t even know what to call it, but I'm looking for a reasonably priced device ($150 or less) with enough watts to drive a small pair of two-way speakers that’s also internet-enabled and capable of playing back Pandora, Spotify, and iTunes (not Apple Music) tracks from my iPhone. Can you make a recommendation? —Scott Oakley, Pine, AZ

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Can You Recommend an Energy Efficient AV Receiver and TV?
Al Griffin  |  Oct 20, 2016  |  1 comments
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Q I'm big into home theater and computers, hobbies that naturally consume lots of electricity. Now that my AV receiver and TV are both due for replacement, I'm hoping you can recommend “green” products that will give me the same great experience, but without the ding on my energy bill and the planet. —Justin Nealis

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Can You Recommend an HDR-Capable HDMI Splitter?
Al Griffin  |  Jun 14, 2018  |  1 comments
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Q I have searched extensively for an HDMI splitter that will let me connect a high dynamic range source to both my new Dolby Vision-capable Vizio TV and my legacy Anthem receiver (for lossless audio). Oppo’s UDP-203 Ultra HD Blu-ray player has dual HDMI outputs and supports Dolby Vision. It also has an HDMI input that would enable passthrough of another HDR-capable source like a Chromecast Ultra, Roku Ultra, Fire TV, or Apple TV 4K. Here’s my question: Is there a less expensive option than the Oppo that would deliver the same result? —Andy Lutz / Houston, TX

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Can You Recommend an Old School-Type Receiver?
Al Griffin  |  Sep 03, 2014  |  9 comments
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Q I hope you can help me. I am old school: born in the early 60s, rocked out in the 1970s.  I had a nice JVC stereo receiver that I bought in 1985, but it died after a couple of resistors got fried. What can I buy to replace it?  I would like to play my vinyl records so I need a phono input. I also have a nice Onkyo Cassette Tape deck and a Technics Compact Disc player I want to use (both with the old red and white jacks).  Plus I have four speakers that use copper wire to clip to the back of the receiver. Major volume potential is a requirement as I need to crank my 1970s rock! I don’t want to break the bank doing it, either. —Scott Wellington, Marietta, GA

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Can You Suggest a Component for Storing My CDs?
Al Griffin  |  Aug 11, 2016  |  10 comments
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Q I'm looking to load my CD collection into a hi-res ripper/music server that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. My plan is to connect it to my Pioneer SC-85 receiver so I can browse lists of artists and titles on my TV. Do you have any suggestions? —April Seale

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Casio Projectors, Headphones, 3D vs. 2D
Scott Wilkinson  |  Sep 30, 2010  |  5 comments
Howdy, Slim
First, let me tell you how much I enjoy your podcasts—very informative and entertaining. I loved the episode with Gene Dolgoff, a true pioneer in this field.
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Center-Channel Problem
Scott Wilkinson  |  Nov 18, 2011  |  15 comments
I have a problem with my dedicated home theater—my center channel doesn't always sound clear. I've heard other systems whose dialog is crystal clear, but mine isn't. My system includes Klipsch speakers (RF-83 fronts, RC-64 center, RB-81 rears), two Velodyne DD-15 subwoofers with SVS AS-EQ1 equalizer, Anthem Statement P5 5-channel power amp, and Integra DHC-9.9 pre/pro. I've attached a photo of where my center-channel speaker sits, plus another one of the front of the theater. Any advice would be appreciated.

Rick Audinot

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Center-Channel Speakers
Scott Wilkinson  |  May 27, 2011  |  0 comments
I'm looking at the B&W CMC and JBL LC2 center-channel speakers. Which do you prefer, or is there another I should consider?

David Sears

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